Propulsion mechanics at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, responsible for keeping engines designed for the T-38 Talon in pristine condition, are being counted on to ensure the Air Forces’s pilot training pipeline requirements continue in light of the COVID-19 virus.

In an update to the fight against Coronavirus, the Defense Department directed all individuals on DoD property, to the extent practical, wear cloth face coverings when they cannot maintain six feet of social distancing in public areas or work centers. In many facets around a flying training wing, six feet of physical distance isn’t practical, so cloth face coverings are a needed tool to fight the virus and flatten the curve.

According to the American College of Sports Medicine, regular physical activity can help reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. Also, moderately intense physical activity is associated with better immune function.

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein said March 18 there have been seven confirmed cases of the new coronavirus to date among active-duty personnel, but that the Air Force is “still conducting global missions … which is priority one.”